Thailand’s supreme reign

As long as absolute power sits with the monarchy, Thailand will never have democracy or freedom.

There are many excellent explanations written by learned persons that do much to explain the ongoing political crisis in Thailand.

But as an ordinary Thai who has closely followed events in my home country from afar, I have a simple theory of my own. Power. Everything that happens politically in Thailand today is due to the struggle to hold onto absolute power.

During the late King Bhumibol Adulaydej’s reign, it was written into Thailand’s many constitutions that absolute power belongs to the people of Thailand and the king exercises that power. In reality, Thailand is a state under the direct dictatorship of the monarchy.

This explains why Thailand’s prime ministership cannot survive the king’s displeasure – as we saw when former PM Thaksin Shinawatra’s win at the ballot box in 2006 was overturned at the insistence of the King. This reality also explains why no one can be more popular than the king – once again as we saw with the populism of Thaksin and the supposed threat that it represented to the cult of personality carefully cultivated around King Bhumibol.

The power of the king’s hand is absolute — he can do no wrong, he has no accountability and his actions are justified to the public as examples of his good intention. And Thailand’s harsh lese majeste law makes sure no one can criticise him.

The current political machinations surrounding the succession in Thailand look more like a circus show than a state affair. Prayuth, the head clown declared after the announcement of the king’s death that the crown prince wanted to delay taking the throne because he wanted to contemplate the sorrow of his father’s death. It sounds more like a joke than truth. All the while, Thailand is in the incredible position of not actually having a king.

I perceive the whole situation comes down to the uncertainty of power sharing among key factions like the Privy Council, the palace network and the army – dealings in which the general public has no part and no say. In the end, whoever has absolute power over the army will dictate the kind of monarchy the country has. It will also be a monarchy modelled on their desires.

Whoever wins, I wouldn’t be surprised that the Thai monarchy is nearing its end. From now on, absolute power is not going to be in one person’s hand only, like Bhumibol’s case. And the palace is not going to share power like royals in Europe or Japan. They will fight to retain power at all cost. That may include the killing of more innocent Thais.

Looking into Thailand’s prospects for democracy, the future is not too bright.

The general public suffers from the brain washing of the palace. Media, courts, armed forces, and especially the army have all long been under palace control. The education system, and religions are contaminated to mislead the public to obey the monarchy no matter what. Anyone who can show the truth about the Thai monarchy has to be put away (or run away) – brave people like Somyot Prueksakasemsuk, a magazine editor and labour campaigner, as well as many others.

But the harsh treatment of those who dare speak out – or offer an counter view – means that today there is no truth in Thailand.

On a brighter note is the easy access to information. There are also more and more Thais openly campaigning for greater political freedom and rights. In the frontline are Dr Suda, Dr Piengdin, Jom Petpradab, Chupong, Arkom,Surachai, Aum Neko , Faiyen and many more. These people work tirelessly and selflessly to stimulate Thais to be able to see the truth.

Of course our path to liberty and freedom can be shortened with international help. Here in Australia I am disappointed by the silence of Australian media and Australian government when it comes to Thailand’s many issues – including the dismantling of its democracy and consistent human rights abuses.

As citizens of a free and fair democracy that, in the main, has a high standard of freedom and equality, we all should speak out about what is going on.

The power play in Thailand is inhuman. It is high time that the absolute power goes back to the Thai people. If we do not turn blind eye to Thailand, a fair and just society is not impossible.

Somchai Rattanakosin is a pseudonym. The author is a Thai national who has lived in Australia for more than 50 years.

46 Responses

The Thai king, while very influential , has no direct power over government affairs. The Thai monarchy is held in high esteem by the vast majority of the public and is not a ” dictatorship “. The Monarchy acts as a living symbol of the Thai state/nation. The King sometimes acts as a referee of last resort when the politicians and generals ( who have the real power ) find themselfs in political deadlock.

Mark Dunn,
You are parroting mainstream media BS. I suggest you read more and write less, until you’re up to speed on the reality of the late kings true ability to influence events.
His personal courtiers, with his express assent, could not, or would not, even curtail minor royals use of traffic clogging motorcades.
So much for supreme say in affairs of state.

Thailand was until only the last 30 years a very poor country. My Thai wife and her mother were only yesterday telling me about how life used to be in this country. Mout farmers in NE Thailand only grew rice, if and when those crops were short people would be so desperate they would eat soil, no kidding they were reduced to eating soil. Thailand is now perhaps the most food wealthy nation on the planet, it is now unthinkable that this country could have ever been so desperate for food. It was the King of Thailand and his tireless work, travelling all over thailand, teaching farmers about crop rotation, how to prepare the land, what things they could grow, how to sell their produce etc that has turned Thailand from one of the poorest nations into what is now an almost fully developed nation with high earning jobs. This is solely down to the Royal projects, the politicians like Thaksin are and were horribly corrupt, openly giving contracts to friends and family members, don’t forget Thaksin’s war on drugs that directly led to thousands of deaths and false imprisonment! If the king is an absolute monarch then good, if the new King is too an absolute monarch then good again. At least the royals care about the people, politicians the world over only care about their own bank balance.

Actually it was 3 days ago when I was talking to 2 Thai sisters about their hardships in Isan in the 1970s, so I can relate to what you are saying. Things changed in the 1980s with electricity, access to water, more schools, health services etc. And then Thailand was fortunate to have Chinese businesses that could take advantage of off-shore industries and from the mid 1980s the country
boomed, and has hardly looked back. Isan is one of the areas of Thailand that has not benefited to the degree other areas have. It is ironic that Thaksin was the first leader to really acknowledge this and did make changes, although not structural changes and not sustainable. Corruption and nepotism was probably his downfall, however nothing new here in Thai crony capitalism. Thai corrupt and unelected regimes have held back Thailand over the decades, it should have been flying much higher than it is. And ironically it is political conflict, largely as a result of the neglect of areas like Isan, is now holding the country back, and only reconciliation could have changed that, not the iron fist of repression.

There is absolutely no doubt in my mind that the royal projects initiated by the late King have been partially responsible for Thailand’s great economic leap forward. That’s not to say that he was solely responsible but it is undeniable that his social, political, economic, and religious leadership has contributed greatly to Thailand’s economic progress. There are also many others who have contributed to Thailand’s economic rebirth. And we should not forget their contributions either.

Totally agree Mark re the King’s great work but where most of us cross the floor is that the Generals have used some of that to build a scenario of a God like presence amongst us for their own ends. The great man was also a victim of being used by the unscrupulous. But I do respectfully disagree with you. Thailand does not have a King. In my mind a Regent can only act on behalf of a King/ Queen. But I accept others may disagree that in Thailand’s unfortunate case a Regent can become Head of State in the vacuum. Looks messy from my hill top, will go and get my eyes tested and see if that makes any difference. The countries that posters mention all have a laid down constitutional procedure which is pretty universal, the incoming monarch does his duty in the cause of stability and continuance, not the case in Thailand.

Perhaps you should add rice farmers post-war that received lower than market prices because of the rice premium that was in place until the mid 1980s, women and men from farms who became wage laborers in a range of non-agricultural based sectors, including manufacturing and service industries OR of course those women and men who went abroad and repatriated as much of their earnings as possible to support families back in Thailand. But one should not ignore the role authoritarian regimes play in the accumulation of capital aka most of the other NICs in the Asia-Pacific region such as Singapore, Taiwan, South Korea, China, Hong Kong, Malaysia and Indonesia. Of course this should not be an argument for philosophically justifying authoritarian regimes but one does have to confront the dynamics of economic development in the real world.

That is in theory ; in reality king Bhumibol was an absolute monarch, well above the dozen of Constitutions that were scrapped by military dictators acting on orders from the Royal Palace. BHumibol was Indeed an absolute monarch, and an absolute dictator

Cannot resist asking Mark Dunn where you have been during the last 50 years while Thailand existed as a military/ hyper royalty absolute arrangement. However on your side of the argument it is against the law for anyone to say/ write against what you said, if you are in Thailand that explains it, you are following their law. however Somchai is in Australia where there would be no laws against Somchai speaking the truth. By the way if you take a few minutes to study Thai history Mark you will learn that the coupists who overthrew the absolute monarchy ( 1932) were themselves overthrown, their liberal socialist constitution torn up and the absolute monarchy restored surreptitiously in a slightly different form, Somchai has observed correctly as he is legally able to do while based in Australia. By the way also Mark you write and I quote ” The King sometimes acts.. ” Where is this King you refer to?

Hello Hugh ,
I am aware of the “promoters” and their coup d’état/revolution as well as their subsequent overthrow by coup d’état. A good example of the old adage that those “who live by the sword die by the sword”
The great tragedy of the “promoters” was that they’re successful organization of Thailand’s first military coup d’état ensured that the revolution was stillborn and that the military became the dominant force in Thai politics. A position that it has maintained to this day.

With regards to the king, I was referring to the office not the current occupier of that office. Of course during the interregnum the regent exercises the functions of the Monarch.

Hi Mark, am I the only one who has noticed that Thailand does not have a King although Prayut promised us one? A Regent is not a King. The function of a Regent should be to act on behalf of King or Queen who maybe is under age or incapacitated. Thailand does not have a King which is a great shame because the King/ Queen could assist with political stabilty

Gen Prayut has very little say in the matter, as the crown prince has decided to delay assumption while he grieves for his late father.

The regent is king in all but name. A rose by any other name is still a rose. Regents are appointed under a wide variety of situations, including the two that you named. For instance, in Belgium the council of ministers acts as regent from the time the king dies until the new king takes office. Malaysia also appoints a regent after the kings death until his successor has taking the oath of office.

Thailand’s current regent will ensure that all legal and political necessities are observed during the interregnum. However, the Regent does not exercise any role with regard to the funeral Ceremonies and rituals that are to be held for the late king. These decisions are made by the ” king in waiting ” in his capacity as heir to the throne. An example being Crown prince Vajiralongkorn’s decree that Princess Sirindhorn will oversee the design and construction of the late king’s funeral pyre.

I agree with you that the next king will be a focus for social and political stability. One of the monarchs first tasks will be to try and persuade the generals to keep their promise to hold parliamentary elections in 2017. There is much speculation that a faction within the Army might try to use the kings death as a pretext to delay them indefinitely.

PS-I also would like to thank you for your kind and reasoned tone of debate. It is very pleasant to ingage in civil and polite Academic discourse. Some times those who post in this type of forum can be very mean and unkind to each other and everyone suffers for it.

I love Thailand, and the Thai people I’ve met. I’ve lived in the Kingdom, and worked alongside a number of Thais overseas. They were hardworking and reliable.
Unfortunately, I never discussed these things with them, it just wasn’t on my ‘radar’ at the time.
I now understand that some of those Thais were very likely to have been ‘yellow’ politically.
They were all overseas educated.
The Thais I maintain friendships with now, are less fortunate, but still have degrees from Thai universities, in the main.
They are not ‘happy campers’.
Some despise both main factions, but such is their current disgust and frustration, they are willing to risk a CP/Taksin regime in the hope it could open the door to better days ahead.
I have recently learned so much more about the true recent history of this beautiful country, and it’s frustrating, and truly heartbreaking.
Thailand has the potential to be an Asian superpower, were it run in a democratic, law abiding, and just manner.
The elite cannot fathom losing a fraction of their control.
The patronage system is just corruption with a prettier name.
They fail to see that a bicameral parliament would pave the way for a win-win.
Thailand is the perfect place to install a House of Lords, but only if access to it is porous, such as modern Westminster, and the judiciary, not the monarchy, or army, are made ‘untouchable’, but not above the law itself.
So long as the current dinosaurs, who really should have departed along with the revered Rama IX, remain in absolute control, then the only way out appears to point toward Thailand having a terrifying ‘Bastille’ event.
It’s not rocket science, but unfortunately, the powerbrokers can barely comprehend steam technology.
They are dragging the nation into turmoil, unrest, and chaos.
They risk the dismemberment of the nation itself, all because of greed, arrogance, and stupidity.
Finally, they should get over themselves.
The only argument they advance against change, to the ‘west’, is that internal politics is ‘their business’ they are right, of course.
But it’s a piss poor excuse for actively destroying the fabric of their own society, just so they can continue to indulge an expired sense of entitlement.

Khan Kai,
Why would Taksin care about this tiny farang website?
If you read carefully here, no one is actually ‘against’ the late King, and few if any believe Taksin is the ‘answer’ to Thailand’s problems.
Unfortunately lese majeste law is so misused and misunderstood, that no intelligent discussion in Thailand is permitted.
With the exception of the gulf states, other royal families do not throw their citizens in jail, even for insults!
This law is not needed to protect the monarchy at all. It is used to keep a group of rich and powerful Thais from sharing in the wealth and governance of Thailand with the people in the provinces, who make them wealthy with their low paid labour.
Until Thais wake up to this, and demand rule of law, the problems will continue until there is a mass uprising with many Thais likely to die needlessly. This is always the end result when debate is punished and banned by unjust laws.

I have always hoped that Thailand will rise above and shed it’s past of the most coup-de-tats in the world, esp. in this 21st century. Yet, reality tells me that it is not going to happen, no matter how much we wish it would transpire.
This is one of the best “say it like it is” articles I’ve read on the true state of Thailand at this site, and that coming from a Thai, though based overseas. It gives one a glimpse of his sorrow and dismay at what has transpired in Thailand and the sad state of affairs it finds itself in today. This did not happen overnight, as it has been going on for decades. And in order for the status quo to continue in this age of mass and rapid communication (social media), the deep state will use any and all tools of repression at their disposal, as we have seen time and time again, eg:Article 44, since the illegitimate military junta took over in May, 2014.
It’s pathetic to see the old dinosaur, newly appointed temporary regent, Pa Prem, who is already 96 yrs old, living on borrowed time, still actively wheeling and dealing behind the scenes to control the outcome.
“Power tends to corrupt and absolute power corrupts absolutely. These Thai military generals have almost always been corrupt men, even when they exercise influence and not authority; still more when you superadd the tendency of the certainty of corruption by authority. They have always looked out for their own interests, and lined their pockets, as is well known by all Thais and done it with impunity, and blanket immunity from any and all future prosecution. No general has ever been jailed for illegitimately seizing power. The despotic power of the junta is always accompanied by corruption of morality. The “authority” it wields, does not exist for liberty in Thailand, therefore it is not authority but force.
Thailand’s history is riddled with the mess each military coup has made. Each time a coup has happened, they have appeared before the nation on TV, making excuses of why they were compelled to seize power and abolish the people’s constitution, and actively used the monarchy as cover for their illegitimate coups. This is why I believe the Thai military has been the key problem in Thailand.
Hundreds of Thais have fled overseas, and thousands have gone underground, since this latest coup and thousands were rounded up, threatened, coerced to sign documents, not allowed to travel overseas and even tried in secret military courts. So much damage has been done to the long term interests of Thailand, it has set the country back many decades and is reaping the consequences of what it’s corrupt leaders have sown.

Limitation is essential to authority. A government is legitimate only if it is effectively limited.The will of the Thai people cannot make just that which is unjust. Absolute power demoralizes. And it is evident to most keen observers, that the Thai people are demoralized of all that has transpired, with fears and anxieties of what the future holds for them and for Thailand. And with the CP waiting for the appropriate time to take the throne, it’s worst fears will be realized. His ruthless actions over the past decades has already given us a good glimpse of what we can expect of him. Sadly, I don’t see it improving or getting any better. It’s day of reckoning has arrived and it will take a mass people’s movement, a people’s revolution, to get back the power that these “crooks” have stolen from the Thai people.

Ryan I am not an apologist for this regime or any other (made that mistake supporting that maniac Pol Pot in Cambodia for quite some time) but I don’t think the situation is quite a grim as you paint in your post. Forever the eternal optimist, especially after a “few” glasses of over-priced wine I think as a “revolutionary” who has lived through quite a few not simply regime changes but societal upheavals that the situation is not quite as grim as you portray it. Still if I am proven wrong I will take it on the cheek or elsewhere if necessary!

What’s the significance of so many of these mourners holding baht notes with the Late Kings picture on it, high above their heads ? Is it a tribute to the many Royal projects ? Poverty alleviation ? His Majesty’s stability contribution to Thailand’s huge, rapid, economic development ?
Ironical ?

It could be any or all of those things. My supposition is that it is simply the most easily obtainable photo of the king. The baht notes are small and light and therefore easier to carry around than larger photos

With regard to Andrew Lees much of what you write is absolutely true, Thaksin was corrupt. It is perfectly legal to say that, what one cannot say is that the family of Prayut are corrupt in a highly public way, the fact that you think it is perfectly Ok for the people in your village to accept one lot of corruption but not another is quite hypocritical.
Secondly judging by your name you are not Thai and yet you have the audacity to advance the theory that the Thai cannot select their leader. I submit to you that the Thais should be alowed to select their leaders and that you and I should leave to Thai people to run their country not just an unelected elite. Somchai is Thai and knows a thing or two about being Thai.
What you say about the Royal projects is very true. given that the King himself commented that the carpets on the floors of his palace were threadbare when he ascended the throne I would like you to inform us all exactly who financed the King’s great projects. You and I are in total agreement, he was brilliant in so many ways, but where did the money come from?

Mr Beale, well, he does seem to have been seen leaving the Grand Palace by car at about 20.30 one evening early last week, perhaps Tuesday. But the broader question that you raise is an interesting one. Unlike, say, the House of Windsor or the Imperial Household Agency in Japan, the Thai monarchy has not had an official spokesperson. In part, this choice has allowed various people to say things that many understood as coming from the palace, even while leaving the palace the ability to deny that that was the case. You will remember Khuekrit’s having played this role. At the same time, it is noteworthy that in all the preparations that the heir to the throne has made since May 2014 to ascend that throne, neither he nor anyone close to him seems to have thought of installing a serious public-communications operation or of designating a spokesperson. We are now witnessing the consequences.

According to Reuters and confirmed by other reputable agencies the CP has left Thailand on personal business. Doubt if his late Father will be very impressed from up above. So much for grieving with the people. Currently, I honestly believe Thailand does not have a King while the military tighten their historic grip.

Very interesting news indeed. I wonder if this ” personal Business ” could be a reference to the prince’s much rumored but as yet unconfirmed ” illness “. If Prince Vajiralongkorn has a serious, possibly life-threatening, medical condition I would say that princess Sirindhorn’s chance of assuming the throne has greatly improved. The royal family may not want to install a new king who might die in short order. This is ,of course, mere speculation on my part.

To address Andrew Lees comments, yes things did start to get betterfor the poor about 30 years ago, but the king had been monarch forty years already with little improvement.

That is a very poor rate of return on any so-called schemes.

It is no coincidence that things got better for the rural poor when Thailand began to industrialise in the 1980s and the sons and daughters of Issan left home for the factories of the Central Plains and Eastern Seaboard. It wasn’t royal agricultural projects but foreign direct investment that has lifted Thailand out of poverty.
The Thais should be kowtowing to the Emperor of Japan instead of Bhumipol

a succinct and accurate account of Thailand’s current black hole. well done Somchai to highlight the summit power scenario. It is pity academics of Thailand do not have the courage of their convictions (if they have any) to speak out (Note Kris Hartley’s piece). Por liew.

Thailand is a plutocracy like almost all countries. It is only because their democratic disguise is so amateurish that we are able to poke fun at them. Western democracy is no more functional or real than Thai democracy but it is very professionally disguised.
All that matters is for the Thais to continue to kowtow to the ‘international community’ (Imperial America), and then their vassal monarch, tin-pot generals and corrupt businessmen can do whatever they like.
The author writes that he is ‘…disappointed by the silence of Australian media and Australian government’. In the words of Yevgeny Yevtushenko, ‘When the truth is replaced by silence the silence is a lie’.

John Smith,
You are on the money about the west, up to a point.
To take Brexit as an pertinent example, so far, Westminster, largely horrified by the outcome, abide by the referendum result.
The utterly brazen way the successive Shin landslides have been undermined again and again, rather than a pragmatic win-win strategy attempted, demonstrates the dreamworld the elite occupy in Thailand.
Democracy may be somewhat of a charade in the west, given that, the elite here have little if anything to lose by going along to get along.
Occams razor would suggest blinding greed and towering stupidity are at the root of their failure to figure this out, even after repeated ‘lessons’ have been presented to them.

Mark Dunn – if the Crown Prince really has a “life-threatening disease”, how come he was able to cycle such a distance – indeed ANY distance – in the sweltering of that Bike4Dad ? It must be very pressing business indeed for the CP to retreat to Germany, at this time. Or did the current Regent compel him to do so ? Would that be gross Lese Majeste ? This of course is one of the fundamental flaws in the LM law : how does it work IF – say only in theory – the Regent “defames, insults, or threatens the Monarch, Heir-Apparent”. Or vice versa ?

Hey Chris,
I was only speculating on the nature of the ” personal business ” that could have led to prince Vajiralongkorn’s trip. There has been speculation that a possible reason for his frequent trips to Germany is a medical condition. This was simply the first thing thing that came to my mind. I’m sure there are any number of other possible causes.

Appreciate what you say Mark. We don’t have any clear, hard evidence of the CP being “AIDS-infected”. There’s none in the Wikileaks cables, where one would expect to find it, and which Andrew MacGregor Marshall is so fond of quoting. So, much as I respect AMM’s fact-finding in many ways – on this it’s simply rumour. It could simply be malicious rumour spread by the CP’s enemies, some of whom are rumoured to be gay cross-dressers – and may well suffer AIDS themselves !

Whatever else can be speculated about re the CP he appears to be healthy and virile. Post-modernist feminists would likely “kick back” – and good for them – but the CP is clearly not on his “death bed” yet so much of what appears is simply idle speculation: the stuff of 112!